European Space Policy Institute

The European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) is Europe's independent think tank for space, founded in 2003 and based at Schwarzenbergplatz 16 in Vienna, Austria, which it describes as the world's capital of space diplomacy. Supported by 23 member organisations and an advisory council of international experts, ESPI works in a non-profit capacity to promote European space policy internationally, provide independent analyses, proposals and recommendations to European decision makers and institutions, and raise public awareness of strategic space issues. Since July 2025 it has operated as a quasi-international organisation in Austria under the Austrian Headquarters Law, and its policy vision, ESPI2040: Space for Prosperity, Peace and Future Generations, advocates a strong Europe as a partner to the world.

Agenda

• Engagement: using its independent status to facilitate dialogue and consensus building among public actors across Europe and beyond, at a time when more than 80 nations conduct space activities
• Research: a research agenda built around three missions, Green and Sustainable Societies, Security and Defence, and Exploration and Science, plus two transversal themes, Industry, Innovation, Finance and Workforce, and Space as an Asset securing Europe's ability to decide and act in space
• Education: supporting a European education ecosystem for space talent, including the Space Policy Summer School held with the Florence School of Regulation at the European University Institute, a Training School on Space Journalism, the Roy Gibson Fellowship on Space Policy, visiting and global fellows, and support for students affected by the closure of the International Space University

Activities and initiatives

ESPI publishes reports, briefs, yearbooks and the monthly ESPI Insights, and runs initiatives including the Network of European Space Think Tanks (NEST), the Centre for Sustainability and Resilience at ESPI, the ESPI-S+T+ARTS artist residency and the European Space for Sustainability Award. Recent activities listed on its site include the first edition of Space Debate Europe with an essay competition, memoranda of understanding with Eurisy and the Open Lunar Foundation, participation in the Munich Security Conference 2026 and the Brussels Economic Security Forum, the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, a European Space Dialogue convened by Liechtenstein on secure connectivity and sovereignty, analysis of direct-to-device connectivity and European full-stack autonomy, and its first open day. The institute celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Austrian Parliament.

Shows

The European Space Policy Institute appears in the partner lists of the European Space Conference 2027, where it is listed as a partner of the 18th edition.

Contact

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